Aged 41 years 8 months 8 days

Joseph Shumaker was a son of Philip Shoemaker and Elizabeth (Rose) Shoemaker.

Siblings of Joseph:
Mary Ann 'Polly' 1812-1887 m Adam Smith
John 1813-1901 m Ruth Devers
Sarah 1814- d young
Isaac 1821-1839
Philip 1825-1904 m Salome Lavina Schaffner
Susanna 1827-1903 m Robert Ferguson
Elizabeth 1831-1887 m Martin Hetrick
Samuel 1834-1899 m Martha Jane Reedy

Joseph married Catherine Baughman and they had a family of 12 children, 6 of whom grew to maturity.
Hannah born 1839
m Peter Kimmel m Dr. Richard T. Pollard
Mariah 1841-1936 m Jacob Kimmel
Isaac E 1843-1921 m Lucinda Shoemaker
David 1844-1915 m Catherine Lamberson
Adam died 1847 as an infant
Solomon Taylor 1851-1927
m Nancy Alice Mack
Elizabeth 1852-1863
Mary 1855-1871
Levi 1853-1868
Infant Son died 1856
John 1856-1875
Daniel L 1857-1939 m Mattie J Morrison

By purchase Joseph acquired 100 acres of his father's original homestead and passed all his days on that place, dying at the comparatively early age of 41 years, 8 months and 8 days. Less than three years after his youngest son was born. The oldest child, Hannah was but 19 years of age. Thus rearing of the family devolved largely on the widow, who lived till September 14, 1914 dying at the advanced age of 92 years, 6 months and 13 days.

For 20 years he was a minister of the German Baptist Church, and he was one of the most respected citizens of the township in his day. An elder of the church said that Joseph Shumaker was gifted and a natural elocutionist. He was a model preacher and labored very acceptably. He was remembered being seen at a love feast in the Shade congregation in September 1860. He seemed to select an individual in the rear of the audience and modulated his voice to reach him. So natural was his elocution that a certain young man afterwards remarked: 'The preacher talked to me all the time.'

His son, S T Shumaker said: "I know this much, the Bible he carried to preach from was German and English and I know he could read either language as I often heard him." Joseph gave his life for the church. He would ride horseback 40 miles to a place called the Cherry Tree, where he preached, he called it the Wilderness. He died young, but he got his sickness from exposure.

Joseph is buried in what was earlier known as Shoemaker Grave Yard which was originally part of the farm of Joseph's father Phillip Shoemaker, Phillip settled here in northern Armstrong county in 1814.